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How Can Intermittent Fasting Benefit Keto Dieters?
May 17, 2019
The keto diet is known for helping many reach their ideal weight and live a healthy lifestyle. In fact, it is a lifestyle that leads to long-term results rather than just being a short-term dieting fad. On the other hand, many also practice intermittent fasting in order to lose unwanted weight. What many do not realize is that you do not have to choose between the two. In fact, combining intermittent fasting with the keto diet allows individuals to not only reach their goals faster but to reap the benefits of both practices. Let's take a closer look at intermittent fasting and how it works with the keto diet.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
It is important to understand that intermittent fasting is not a diet. It doesn't dictate what you eat, but rather when you eat. Those who participate in intermittent fasting, only eat within a certain period of time and then fast for the remainder of the day.
For instance, in a 24-hour period, participants will eat during an 8-hour window and fast for the remaining 16 hours. There are different variations in which people choose to eat during a 4 or 6-hour window instead. The window of time you choose to eat is dependent upon what works best for your lifestyle. The purpose of engaging in intermittent fasting is to give your body the opportunity to tap into your body's reserves.
The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is known for offering several benefits to those who are striving to become the healthiest version of themselves. The benefits include:
- Increasing weight loss - Participating in intermittent fasting will allow you to lose weight no matter what you eat and without the worry of counting calories. You inherently cut calories when you limit the time frame in which you eat.
- Increase muscle - Intermittent fasting increases the level of human growth hormone in the body which in turn increases muscle while decreasing body fat.
- Recover from injuries quicker - Muscle pulls and tears will heal faster due to intermittent faster thanks to the increase of human growth hormone in the body.
- Better skin - Human growth hormone increases the thickness of skin which makes it less susceptible to unwanted wrinkles and sagging. Intermittent fasting increases levels of human growth hormones.
- Slow down aging - stem cells are used to replace damaged cells in the body. Intermittent fasting increases the production of stem cells in the body.
- Increased brain function - Intermittent fasting increases the protein called BDNF in the brain which helps with the ability to retain information and learn new information more quickly.
- Reduce inflammation - Intermittent fasting reduces oxidative stress which in turn reduces inflammation in the bod
Why Does Intermittent Fasting Work?
Intermittent fasting isn't just another quick weight loss fad, it is backed by years of scientific research and studies.
In a non-fasting lifestyle, insulin production is initiated by the pancreas when carbohydrates are eaten. Insulin is a hormone that tells the body to store excess carbs in the form of glycogen or fat in the body. The problem is that if you are consuming carbohydrates on a regular basis, your body is constantly producing insulin. Insulin prevents stored energy from being tapped into as a fuel source and instead insulin keeps telling the body to store excess carbs as fat in the body. You aren't giving your body the opportunity to burn reserves.
However, when you intermittent fast, you are going through long periods of time where you aren't consuming carbohydrates. Your body still needs fuel though and must pull the required energy from somewhere. Your body must tap into your body's fat reserves which it can now do because insulin levels are now reduced due to the fact that you aren't eating carbohydrates. This leads to weight loss and a myriad of other benefits.
Intermittent Fasting and the Keto Diet - The Perfect Marriage
Blending the keto diet and intermittent fasting means you are fine-tuning your lifestyle by eating the appropriate foods at the appropriate times and is a great option for those who already are or are looking to become health conscious.
What is the Keto Diet?
Keto focuses on a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet. This leads to an increase of ketones which allows the body to enter into a state of ketosis. Ketones which are produced from fat are used as an alternative energy source instead of glucose. This means the body is able to pull from fast reserves leading to an increase in weight loss.
How Do Intermittent Fasting and the Keto Diet Work together?
Practicing the keto diet and intermittent fasting together is rising in popularity and offers a variety of benefits.
For starters, intermittent fasting will help you reach the desired state of ketosis quicker. This is especially helpful for those who may struggle to stay in a state of ketosis or even reach a state of ketosis in the first place.
Secondly, both practices use fat reserves as a fuel source, which leads to quicker weight loss in a safe manner. Those who want to practice the keto diet and make sure they preserve muscle will benefit greatly from intermittent fasting, which is known for building muscle.
Even though there are differences in the way the two practices work, they go hand-hand because they both pull from your body's fat reserves, allowing you to shed the excess pounds effectively.
Both intermittent fasting and the keto diet are considered safe and effective for those looking to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Each practice is effective on their own, but when combined are very advantageous to those looking to become as healthy as possible. Intermittent fasting is a great way for keto dieters to reach their goals faster while reaping the benefits from both practices. In essence, intermittent fasting elevates the keto diet experience. Adopting new lifestyles are always easier with a support group. Visit The Casual Keto Doctor
for tips, expert advice, more information, personal stories, and to connect with other keto dieters just like you.
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